PUNAKHA FESTIVAL:PUNAKHA DOMCHOE

Main Highlights of Punakha Domchoe:

Punakha festival consists of typical masked dances which are very colourful and interesting, the events and enactments are different on each day. Punakha Dromchoe is a five day long festival dedicated to the goddess Mahakala. The religious aspects are performed in the same manner as in early times. On the last day, a play of warriors going off to war is enacted.

Date of this festival: Feb 27-March 2, 2012

Punakha Domchoe Tour Itinerary

 Day 01 : Arrive Paro, Paro toThimphu

Arrive at Paro.You will be received by your tour guide from Bhutan All Seasons Tours & Treks at the Paro International Airport.
After the refreshment,visit the Ta Dzong rated as one of the finest natural Museum in South Asia, and is filled with antique thanka paintings, textiles, weapons and Armour. The visit the Rinpung Dzong ( in the same location) built in 1645 to defend the valley against Tibetan invaders. The Dzong is now use as an administration center and school for monks. Then walk down to Rimpung Dzong Bridge, one of the oldest bridges in Bhutan.
In the evening,travel to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. Dinner and  overnight at  hotel in Thimphu.

 Day 02:Thimphu Sightseeing

In the morning,visit :

• National Textile Museum which is  a good place to see the art of traditional weaving being kept alive and preserved through exhibition and has a good collection of old Bhutansese textiles which are rich in colors and designs.You will also see people weaving with intricate designs.
• The National Institute of Traditional Medicine (outside only), where medicinal herbs are compounded and dispensed, and traditional medical practitioners trained. 
• The folk heritage museum, an outdoor museum that gives an insight into rural life.
• The School of Traditional Painting of Arts and Crafts where students undertake a six-year course on the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan which includes painting, embroidery works, wood craving,etc.
• Drive to see the Takin Preserve, which houses the national animal the Takin that is only found in Bhutan. This is an extremely rare member of the goat family. Found in herds in the very high altitudes (13,125ft and over). They live on a diet of grass and bamboo. It can weigh as much as 550 pounds.

After lunch, visit:

• Tashichhodzong, the fortress of the glorious religion”. This is the center of government and religion, site of the monarch's throne room and seat of the Je Khenpo or Chief Abbot. Built in 1641 by the political and religious unifier of Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, it was reconstructed in the 1960s in traditional Bhutanese manner, without nails or architectural plans.
• National Memorial Chorten, continuously circumambulated by the faithful, murmuring mantras and spinning their prayer wheels. Construction of this landmark was the idea of Bhutan’s third king, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (the father of modern Bhutan) who had wished to erect a monument to world peace and prosperity. Completed in 1974 after his untimely death, it serves both as a memorial to the Late King and as a monument to peace.
• The government-run Handicrafts Emporium and local crafts shops, to browse through examples of Bhutan’s fine traditional arts. Here you can buy hand-woven textiles, thangkha paintings, masks, ceramics, slate and wood carvings, jewelry, and other interesting items made from local materials.

Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.

Day 03  Thimphu -Punakha

Driving about 2 1/2 hours, leaving Thimphu the road climbs steeply through a forest of pine and cedar, festooned with hanging lichen high up near Dochula pass (3,050 m). This pass offers panoramic views of the Himalayan mountain ranges on a clear day. You will see Rhododendrons, Magnolias, Junipers and pine forests with chirping sounds of the many rare species of birds found in Bhutan. We then drive onto Lobesa where you take a short hike to Chimi Lhakhang Temple. This temple is on a hill top and it is dedicated to the great Yogi known as Drukpa Kuenley or popularly known as Divine madman of the 14th century. It is believed that this temple blesses women who seek fertility. Overnight at hotel

Day 04:  Punakha Festivals

• Witness Punakha Festival. Venue- which is held at the courtyard of the Punakha Dzong.Overnight at hotel at Punakha.

Day 05:Punakha Domchoe and Sightseeing

Morning hike to Khamsum Yulay Namgyel. A temple built by the queen mother of Bhutan for peace and harmony best exemplifies the representation of  Bhutans unique arts, crafts & architecture.  This afternoon enjoy the festival of Punakha Domchoe. Overnight at hotel

Day 06: Wangdi-Thimphu

Morning visit Wangdue Dzong and drive back to Thimphu, visiting Simtokha Dzong en route. This dzong, built in 1627, is the oldest in Bhutan. It now houses the Institute for Language and Culture Studies
In the evening,drive to see the Takin Zoo, which houses the national animal the Takin that is only found in Bhutan. Drive further upto Sangaygang to get a bird’s eye view of the Thimphu valley in the evening. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Thimphu.

Day 07: Thimphu-Paro

After breakfast, drive to Paro. Visit Kichu temple,one of the 108 temples built in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo. The story goes that a giant demon lay across the whole area of Tibet and the Himalayas and was preventing the spread of Buddhism. To overcome her, King Songtsen Gampo decided to build 108 temples, which would be placed on all the points of her body. Of these 108 temples, 12 were built in accordance with precise plans. Thus, it happened that in about the year AD 638 the temple of Jokhang in Lhasa was built over the very heart of the demoness.
After lunch,  drive up the valley to view the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong, 18 km. from Paro town on the north side of the valley. It was from here that the Bhutanese repelled several invading Tibetan armies during the 17th century. Evening at leisure to visit local shops. Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

Day 08: Paro- Short Hike

After breakfast,drive up to the base camp of Taktsang and then  hike up to the most famous Monastery in the entire kingdom of Bhutan perched on the edge of a steep cliff, about 900 meters above Paro Valley. The hike to the viewpoint will take about an hour and it will take 2 hours to the monastery. Lunch at the viewpoint. Overnight at hotel in Paro.

Day 09: Depart Paro

In the morning, your Bhutan All Seasons Tour guide will seee you off at the Paro Airport for your onward journey.